Nov. 26, 2000

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest University athletic director Ron Wellman confirmed tonight that the contract of eight-year head football coach Jim Caldwell has been terminated.

Caldwell, who took over the head coaching position at Wake Forest in 1993, compiled an eight-year record of 26-63. Beginning with his first season, Caldwell's teams posted records of 2-9 (1993), 3-8 (1994), 1-10 (1995), 3-8 (1996), 5-6 (1997), 3-8 (1998), 7-5 (1999) and 2-9 (2000). In 1999, the Deacons finished the regular season 6-5 and went on to beat Arizona State in the Jeep Aloha Bowl. The 1999 season marked Wake's first winning season and first bowl appearance since 1992.

A search for a new coach will begin immediately.

"Jim has been a credit to the University during his eight years with us," Wellman said. "He has abided by NCAA rules, graduated his players and has been an exceptional representative of Wake Forest. In this profession, however, we are also evaluated by wins and losses. While we have made progress, it is my evaluation, after eight years, that we are not where I anticipated we would be."

Caldwell came to Wake Forest after serving as an assistant coach at Penn State from 1986-92. He previously worked as an assistant coach at Louisville (1985), Colorado (1982-84), Northwestern (1981) and Southern Illinois (1978-80). He began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Iowa in 1977.

A 1977 University of Iowa graduate, Caldwell grew up in Wisconsin, attending Beloit Memorial High School. Jimmy Caldwell, one of his four children, is a junior wide receiver on the Deacon football team.